Vacuum-based method and apparatus for cleaning soiled articles

A vacuum-based disinfecting device comprising:

• a. a vacuum chamber comprising:
• i. an housing defining an internal space having an internal pressure;
• ii. an opening;
• b. a vacuum lid adapted to engage with the opening;
• c. a vacuum source engaged with the vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum source is configured to lower the internal pressure of the internal space of the vacuum chamber;
• and
• d. a subsystem configured to release at least one disinfecting compound into the vacuum chamber.

A vacuum-based disinfecting method comprising:

• a. providing a vacuum chamber having an internal space with an internal pressure;
• b. providing an article to be disinfected, wherein said article is placed within the internal space of the chamber;
• c. run at least one disinfecting cycle comprising:
• i. injecting a disinfecting gas into the internal space of the vacuum chamber, said gas having a partial pressure within the internal space;
• ii. applying a vacuum source to the vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum source reduces the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber to below ambient pressure outside the vacuum chamber and reduces the partial pressure of the disinfecting gas;
• iii. maintaining the sub-atmospheric internal pressure for a period of time sufficient to achieve a cleaning objective;
• and
• iv. raising the internal pressure to atmospheric pressure.